introduction and nsf overview - university of new hampshire€¦ · introduction and nsf overview...
TRANSCRIPT
Introduction and NSF Overview
Adapted from an Official NSF presentation by
Anita Klein, former NSF Program Officer, Assoc. Prof. Biological Sciences
Main Topics
Origins of NSF The National Science Foundation The NSF FY 2009 Budget Request NSF Initiatives
Current Proposal, Award and Funding Trends The Proposal Application and Review Process
Origins of NSF
NSF Act of 1950
“To promote the progress of science…”
NSB (24) and 1 Director, appointed by the President
Encourage & develop a national policy for the promotion of basic research and education in the math, physical, medical, biological, engineering and other sciences
Initiate & support basic scientific research in the sciences
Evaluate the science research programs undertaken by agencies of the Federal government
Provide information for S&E policy formation
NSF Vision
Enabling the nation’s future through discovery, learning
and innovation.
NSF-3
NSF in a Nutshell
Independent Agency Supports basic research & education Uses grant mechanism Low overhead; highly automated
Discipline-based structure Cross-disciplinary mechanisms Use of Rotators/IPAs National Science Board
$$ $$ $$
Funding trends How the NSF budget is crafted: NSF & Executive Branch ask, Congress
funds
U.S. R&D, by source of funds: 1953–2002
1,070,146
486,004
4,614,709
1,216,740
322,345
834,017
747,852
172,245
169,608
382,543
01,000,0002,000,0003,000,0004,000,0005,000,000
0%
1%
9%
35%
36%
42%
44%
48%
59%
84%
0 20 40 60 80 100
Federal Obligations for Basic Research at Academic Institutions, FY 2002
Total Federal Distribution ($000) NSF Share of Total Federal
Computer sciences Mathematics Social sciences Environmental sciences Engineering Other Sciences Physical sciences Biological sciences (non-medical)
Psychology Medical sciences
NSF FY 2010 by Account ($ in Millions) Account FY2009 FY ARRA* FY2010
request
Research & Related Activities
$5183.1 $2500 5,733
Education & Human resources
$845.26 $100 $857
Major research equipment & facilities
$152.00 $400 $117.39
Agency Operations & Award management
$294.00 $318.37
National Science Board
$4.03 $4.34
Office of Inspector General
$12.00 $2.00 $14.10
Total $6490.40 $7,045.30
* American recovery and reinvestment act.
Presidential Initiatives and Major Investments
Potentially transformative research
Career Awards: (+11%) Faculty early career development
Graduate Research Fellowships (+6%) Advanced Technological Education (+24%) Green technology education in community colleges
and 4-year schools
Climate change education
Additional Initiatives Climate Change Science Program Climate Research Cyber-enable discovery and innovation Cybersecurity Experimental program to stimulate competitive research (NH qualifies) Homeland security Nanotechnology
Funding Opportunities Unsolicited Proposals in Disciplinary Programs Regular research grants- RUI CAREER program SGER and conference grants Supplements for broadening participation and for enhancing
research impacts
Solicited proposals for specific programs C-RUI grants Center grants - S&T centers, MRSEC, NSEC Training grants - IGERT, REU sites, GK12 Instrumentation grants Priority areas
Regular Research Grants
Unsolicited Any topic BIO Directorate does not consider disease
related research proposals. BIO Directorate does not consider
duplicate proposals unless you are a beginning investigator.
Research Programs and Clusters are described on the web page. http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=BIO
CAREER Proposals
Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program Eligibility Untenured assistant professors
Features Plans for research and education for five years Minimum of $500,000 for five years Once a year Some CAREER awardees receive PECASE awards
Check the program announcement
Other Relevant Programs Transforming Undergraduate Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. TUES (formerly CCLI): May 27, 28 2010 (Phase I), January 2009 (Phase II & III) Intention to move beyond small-scale change The development of new educational materials (EMD
track) The adaptation and implementation of existing educational
materials (A&I track) Large-scale faculty professional development (ND track) The new development, adaptation or dissemination of
tools for assessment of student achievement (ASA track)
REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) Sites
To initiate and conduct projects that engage a number of undergraduate students in research A well-defined common focus that enables a cohort experience for students To involve students in research who might not otherwise have the opportunity, particularly those from academic institutions where research programs are limited Typically for summer research
UMEB Undergraduate Mentoring in Biology
Institutional awards to give students research experience - broadly defined Proposals should emphasize factors that enable underrepresented groups to enter and remain in environmental biology Major emphasis on direct student participation in research during the academic year and summer, with students remaining in program for >1 year
Major Research Instrumentation Program MRI
NSF wide program Designed to improve the condition of scientific and engineering equipment and facilities for research and research training Awards for instrumentation will range from $100,000 to $2 million Deadline: 4th Thursday in January, annually Program Announcement: NSF-07-510
RIG CAA: Research Initiation Grants and Career Advancement Awards For Broadening Participation
Objective To provide starter funding so that the minority PIs can
obtain competitive research funding Eligibility Faculty from underrepresented groups Minority serving institutions Others with plans to increase minority participation as PIs
with research funding Types RIG – New Investigators; January & July each year CAA – May have previous or current research funding
Budget Includes $150k - 24 months, $25k equipment Carter Kimsey [email protected]
RUI: Research in Undergraduate Institution
Objectives To support high-quality research by faculty members of
predominantly undergraduate institutions To strengthen the research environment in academic departments
that are oriented primarily toward undergraduate instruction To promote the integration of research and education
Eligibility Institution: NSF-supported fields, more undergrads than grads,
<10 doctoral degrees/year, Department: No Doctoral program or participation in such program Investigator: Does not advise doctoral students
RUI Impact Statement Describes the expected effects of the proposed research on the
research and educational environment of the institution
Award Supplement Opportunities
Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Research Opportunity Awards (ROA) Research Assistantships for Minority High School Students (RAMHSS) Informal Science Education Supplements International Research and Education Supplements
Submitting an Application to NSF through Grants.gov
* Applicant or Researcher
1. Applicant* navigates to Grants.gov website
2. Applicant searches for program announcements
3. Applicant finds a program announcement and downloads application package (PureEdge forms) and instructions
4. Applicant completes application package
5. AOR submits application package to Grants.gov
7. NSF downloads submitted application packages and validates and inserts the information into FastLane
6,8. Confirmations are sent by both Grants.gov and NSF
Allow extra time for steps 5-8!
NSF Grants.gov Application Guide
Intended to serve as the primary document for use in preparation of NSF applications via Grants.gov Includes step-by-step instructions for completion of each of the SF 424 (R&R) forms as well as the NSF specific forms Provides specific instructions for inclusion and conversion of pdf files
Research & Education Communities
Proposal Preparation and Submission
Organization submits
via: FastLane Grants.gov
NSF
Program Director
Program Director Analysis
& Recom.
Division Director Concur
Via DGA
Organization
Minimum of 3
Reviews Required
DGA Review and Processing of Award
Proposal Review and Decisions
NSF
Proposal Generating Document
Returned As Inappropriate/Withdrawn
Panel
Both
Award
NSF Proposal & Award Process & Timeline
Decline
90 Days 6 Months 30Days
Proposal Receipt at NSF DD Concur Award
Proposal Processing
Unit
NSF
Merit Review Criteria: NSF invests in the best ideas from the most capable people, determined by competitive merit review.
The intellectual merit of the proposed activity Creativity and originality Potential to advancing knowledge and understanding within and across
fields Conceptualization and organization Qualifications of investigators Access to resources (equipment and expertise)
The broader impacts of the proposed activity Discovery while promoting teaching, training and learning Participation of underrepresented groups Enhancement of infrastructure for research and education Dissemination of results to enhance scientific and technological
understanding Benefits to society
Commandments for Writing Competitive NSF Proposals
“Thou shalt propose a brilliant idea.”
“Thou shalt read Grant Proposal Guide and Program Announcement.”
“Thou shalt discuss the broader impacts.”
“Thou shalt get help with proposal writing.”
“Thou shalt write for the right audience.”
“Thou shalt not irritate the reviewers.”
"Thou shalt not kill (with some exceptions).“
"Thou shalt not steal."
NSF on the web - An indispensable resource
www.nsf.gov
References
Grant Proposal Guide http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg
Science and Engineering Indicators http://nsf.gov/statistics/ When in doubt – http://www.nsf.gov/
Current Proposal, Award and Funding Trends
Distribution of Average Reviewer RatingsFY 2005
1 46
3,060
590
8,522
1,323 1,798
3,564
5,141
1,124
15,415
1,174
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
No Score Poor to Fair Fair to Good Good to VeryGood
Very Good toExcellent
Excellent
Num
ber o
f Pro
posa
ls
Awards Declines
Number of Proposals: 31,966 Declines, 9,792 Awards
Research Grant Proposals by PI Type
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
20,000
Num
ber
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Perc
enta
ge
Proposals - Prior PI 11,203 11,635 12,026 11,693 12,172 12,885 14,013 14,965 16,944 18,700Proposals - New PI 7,446 8,013 7,910 7,526 7,951 8,561 9,084 10,286 11,752 12,941Funding Rate - Prior PI 36% 34% 36% 36% 36% 36% 32% 32% 29% 25%Funding Rate - New PI 19% 17% 20% 21% 20% 22% 19% 19% 16% 14%
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004